Upset! Kind of

The Southeast boys are no longer undefeated. Granted, the reason sophomore Bishop Carroll forward Blake Bell blew up for 33 points last night was probably aided by the fact that Southeast forward Cortez Barnes was out with the flu, but Carroll did nearly beat the Buffs in the first meeting of the season as well when Barnes was in the lineup. Bell is a young athlete with huge upside (he'll be a top recruit in his class for football), and he's coming on in hoops. Carroll is a team I've been waiting for to turn the corner, and maybe this is it. They'll compete for a spot at state and beyond in Class 5A. This win added to their win over East earlier in the season makes them a team with which to be reckoned. An 88-76 win over Southeast is huge. No team ever wants to play Carroll at home in the Concrete Cave. It is a small, crowded setting with a low ceiling - perfect for shooters and gym rats. Guard Brett Steven added 20 points; he's smooth and can shoot it. It's sort of a shame they won't be playing in the Cave much longer, as they're building a new facility.

I'm curious about the Maize boys basketball team. Look for a report on them on the Web site later this week. After a slow start, they're getting it going. Wins last week over McPherson and Wichita Northwest have put them back on the map. Things didn't look good after their mid-season tournament at McPherson, where they nearly beat defending Class 6A champ Blue Valley West only to drop their next game to 4A Buhler. Brett Soft, who broke the single-season state marks for receiving yards and receptions this past football season, is supposed to be coming on strong. He's 6-4 and very athletic. Again, like Bell, he'll be a top recruit in the state for football next season. He just needs some exposure; he's got the tools to play big-time Division I football.

The Andover Central girls continue to roll. Who can stop them? Maybe only Colby in the 4A state tournament.

Across town, the Andover High boys are also undefeated. It's amazing that a town that had only one small school back in the day has grown to its current size and can produce two top basketball teams in the state now. This is truly a sports town.

I've also got my eye on the Argonia girls. They're 15-0. Look for a report on Argonia on our Web site early next week. Last season, another 1A girls team from the area, South Haven, won the state tournament going undefeated all season. The south end of south central Kansas could produce another state champ this season.

Weather update: how is it 65 degrees one day, then 25 degrees and snowing and freezing raining two days later. Kansas.